Innersole and method of making same



y 6,1931 c. c EAToN ET AL 2,086,262

' INNERSQLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed May 7, 1935 Patented July 6, 1 937 JNiiiED TiYAiES INNERSOLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAll/[E Charles C. Eaton, Brockton, and Hugh L. Opie, Braintree, Mass; said Opie assignor to said Eaton Application May 7, 1935, Serial No. 20,152

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved innersole and method of making the same.

Heretofore it has been the practice in making innersoles to form an upstanding rib following the contour of the ball and shank portions of the sole and spaced inwardly therefrom, this rib being channeled from a face of the innersole so as to be integral therewith. In order to reinforce this rib against the tension of stitches when the welt is stitched thereto, it has been the practice to reinforce the rib by cementing a layer of canvas or the like over the entire face of the sole which is bordered by the rib, the canvas extending up on the inner face of the rib to the upper edge thereof. This reinforcing layer materially stiffens the innersole both by reason of the laminated structure thus produced and also by reason of the cement between the reinforcing layer of canvas and the sole.

In some lines of shoes a maximum degree of flexibility is considered desirable. It is an object of the present invention to produce an innersole which is considerably more flexible than equivalent soles having a reinforcing layer over the entire face area surrounded by the rib, in which there is an economy of reinforcing material, and in which the reinforcing material is sufficiently anchored to withstand the stresses of stitches made through the rib.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the description thereof which follows, and to the drawing of which Figure l is a plan View of an innersole prepared to receive a reinforcing tape.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2, including the reinforcing tape.

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of mechanism applying a reinforcing tape to a sole.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views on the line 66 of Figure 4, showing the parts in different positions of operation. V

Figure 1 shows an innersole H! which has been channeled as at I! and E2 to form a pair of lips l3 and M, respectively. These lips are turned up from the face of the sole and are cemented together to form a single rib #5, as indicated in Figure 2. In order to reinforce this rib, without stiffening the innersole any more than is necessary, a strip of textile tape EU is applied to the inner face 2i of the rib l5. The tape 2% is preferably a bias tape so as to facilitate smooth application of the tape to the curved portions of the rib I5, particularly at the toe of the sole. As

indicated in Figure 3, the tape 29 is preferably of sufiicient width to extend into the channel l2 and inwardly beyond the inner edge of the channel 12, as at 22, the tape being in substantially continuous adhesive contact from edge to edge' with the innerface of the rib 85, the bottom of the channel [2 and a portion of the bottom of the innersole Hi. This provides a substantial width of interfacial contact between the tape and the innersole which is necessary for a proper anchoring of the tape to resist the outward pull thereon of stitches through the rib, I5.

It is important that the tape 20 be applied in such a manner as to be neither too tight nor too loose with respect to the stitches which pass therethrough. To this end, it is preferable that the rib l5 be outwardly inclined, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, at the moment of application of the tape 29 to the rib and to the adjacent area of the face of the sole inwardof the rib. This results in an application of the adhesive tape to the rib and sole in such a manner that undesirable slack at the juncture of the rib and face of the sole is avoided and the tape effectively reinforces the rib against the tensional pull of the stitches therethrough.

For the application of the tape 20 to the sole It, any suitable apparatus may be employed which will apply the tape smoothly to the desired surfaces while the rib l5 at the point of application is being held in, an outwardly inclined position. In carryingout the invention, the strip of tape may conveniently be laid progressively in theinner channel adjacent to the rib, any suitable mechanism for this purpose being employed.

Prior to the application of the tape to the sole, a V film of suitable adhesive material may be applied to a face of the tape or to the surfaces to be engaged by the tape, or both. As illustrated in Figure 4, a combination of elements comprising a support wheel 25, a gage 25, and a presserfoot 27 may be conveniently employed. As shown,'the gage 26 may be adjustably mounted on a bracket 38, the gage having an end face 3| which slopes at the proper angle to support the rib IS in an outwardly inclined position when the marginal portion'of the'sole I0 is supported on' the wheel 25. The wheel 25 is preferably mounted for free rotation on the bracket 38, the margin of the sole being fed along by movement of the presserfoot 21. Suitable mechanism, not shown, may be employed to impart to the presserfoot 21 a circular motion, this motion appearing when the presse foot is viewed as indicated in Figures 5,

6 and 7. The result of such movement is to impart feeding movement to the marginal portion of the sole iii, the tape 29 being fed between the sole and presserfoot as desired. As indicated in Figure 4, the end face 35 of the presserfoot, which confronts the end face 3! of the gage, is sloped so as to be parallel to the face 3i. The bottom of the presserfoot includes a portion which is preferably serrated or knurled and which is of a width approximately equal to the Width of the inner channel 52. This knurled portion of the bottom face grips the innersole, imparting feeding movement thereto, and also presses the tape 25! into the channel 52. The remaining portion 37 of the presserfoot may be smooth if desired and is adapted to bear upon at least a substantial width of the portion of the tape which is inward of the channel i2. This portion is thus firmly cemented to the face of the sole and provides a strong and suficient anchorage for the tape against the pull of stitching through the rib l5.

It is evident that various modifications and changes may be made in the particular embodiment of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In the art of shoemaking, steps in the method of making an innersole, which comprise channelling said sole to form an upstanding rib extending along the margin of the ball and shank aceaecz portions thereof and spaced inwardly from the edge thereof, progressively applying and cementing a strip of bias tape to the inner face of said rib and to the face of the sole within and adjacent to said rib while pressing the rib at the point of application of said strip to incline outwardly.

2. In the art of shoemaking, steps in the method of making an innersole, which comprise cutting inner and outer channels in a face of said sole along the margin of the ball and shank portions thereof to form a pair of lips following the contour of the sole and spaced inwardly from the edge thereof, cementing said lips in face-to-face contact to form an upstanding rib, pressing said rib to incline outwardly, and cementing to the inner face of said rib when so inclined and to the sole face adjacent to said rib a strip of bias tape of sufficient Width to cover said inner face of the rib and to extend inwardly on the face of the sole a substantial distance beyond the inner channel.

3. An innersole having an upstanding rib turned up therefrom and extending along and spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of the ball and shank portions thereof, and a strip of reinforcing tape cemented to the inner face of said rib and to an area of substantial width within and adjacent to said rib, said tape having smooth unstressed adhering engagement with said rib and sole when said rib is outwardly inclined.

CHARLES C. EATON. HUGH L. OPIE. 

